Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1887-08-13
A FEW FACTS.


On the eve Of the Syracuse Con-
vontion, whose mission ought to be
to set down the fundamental prin-
ciplcs OF the great political movement
Of labor, it is proper to consider the
origin of this movement, and to i'm
press on the mind of every man en-
gagged in it a few facts that ought
never to be lost sight Of.
On the I'd of July 1857, Judge
Barrett passed his Infamous sentences,
branding five honest workingmcn as
eXtortonists and conspirators for
having done their duty to their or
gani2a'ion.
On the evening of the same day
delegates of the Sociahstic Labor
Party, the Cgarmakers', Bakers,
Bartonders', Walters Union, and of
the Carl Sahm Club met to call Il
mass-mecting, for the purpose Of
protesting against and dcnouncing
the unlawful aud arbitrary actions Of
the judiciary.
On July Is the Central Labor
Union of New York Endorsed the
call for u meeting and lasscd rosoln-
tions condemning Barrott's sentence.
The next day Judge Barrett,
speaking from the bench, directed
the District Attorney to institute
proceeding against s. f. Sheyitch.
then editor Of the Iolk&-acjlaHq, for
having published an article calling
upon the people to unite ina mighty
protest against the policy of oppres-
sion inaugurated by the "sayiors y
Of Barrctt's type,
On July r, the mass s-meeting called
by the aboye-named organizations
was held at the Cooper Union. 1t
WAS ono Of the grandost and most
impressive demonstrations that ever
took place in that hall. John Swim
ton, Edward King, John McMackin
and $, E Sheyitch were the speak
ers. All insisted on the necessity Of
organizing labor politically in order
to crush it's wouId-be oppresSors at
the polls.
On July IL the Central Labor
Unions Of New York and Brooklyn
passed resolutions in which they
called upon the wGrkingmcn to Or
ganizc an independent political
movement, and committees were a.
pointed to issue . call to that effect.
On the 9TH Of August the first con
ference Ct trades to which delegates
of the Socihistic Labor Party were
admitted as representing - bvHa fde
Labor organization met ut Clarendon
Hall. Mr.. Jablinowski, Of the
Cigarmakors' Union, who is well
known in om labor movement as II
Socialist, made the motion that an
independent Labor Party be formed.
Messrs. DlstclI, Enrich, Bloch, alI
Socialists, made the principal
speeches in favor Of the motion,
while VIM. McCabe. now secretary
of the fourteenth Assembly District
United Labor Party, and Mr.. Nc
Kay of Typographical Union No. 6
opposed it. Jablinowski's motion
was finally passed by an oyerwheIm-
ing majority, and at the next meet
ing Of the conference Henry George
was nominated for Mayor.
This Is in a few words the early
history Of our present movement.
1t is suggestive and instructive. 1t
shows that it was in its origin, is
now and must remain a lab0r mogv-
ment first, last at all the time that
the Socialistic workingmen Of New
York were among the first to ad-
vocate the necessity of independents
political action as protest of the
working masses against the classes !;
that, therefore, i would now be as
unjust as ii is dangerous to attempt
to "Oust" the very men who were
and are the most unscllish and faith
full champions of labor organiza-
tions - \o,p J0rB Tp0,yer